Introduction to Hung Gar Kung Fu
The Hung system of Kung Fu is one of the most popular and versatile styles of Siu Lum temple boxing in China. It is slow and depends on tremendous physical strength. The style is also synonymous with stability, force and ferocity. The various armed and unarmed styles are also patterned after animals, birds and insects. Hung Gar Kung Fu belongs to the unarmed category, which emulates the movements of the tiger, crane, dragon, leopard and snake. Hung Hee Gung, a boxer from 18th century, who devoted his life to Kung Fu, was a pupil of two Siu Lum monks: Chee Sin, a specialist in the long-hand method and Fong Wing Chuen, an expert boxer of the short-hand art.
After years of study, Hung combined the best methods of the two instructors; specializing in the tiger and crane styles, merged both long and short-range tactics. He consciously tried to keep his methods the same and thus originated the Hung Gar system.
An important thing to understand is that some animals and their nature have lessons to teach the Hung gar student or practitioner. The strength and courage of the tiger should be a part of his character, while the sly and deceptive nature of the snake aims at helping the practitioner to be an unpredictable fighter. Hazardous power and swiftness of the dragon, along with the sense of balance, liveliness, vigilance, and active spirit of a crane makes the Hung Gar student a powerful force armed with technique – a commendable combination.